2 hospital networks agree to merge, raising specter of costlier care

Two major New York City hospital networks have agreed to merge, creating the largest private hospital system in the city, raising the prospect of higher prices for consumers, and positioning the new system to take advantage of coming changes under the federal health care law. The boards of the two hospital systems, Mount Sinai Medical Center and Continuum Health Partners, a network of community-oriented hospitals that includes Beth Israel and the two St. Luke's-Roosevelt campuses, approved the merger in consecutive votes on Monday and Tuesday.